Chapter 49

Ruan Yan Shan—who was he?

Ruan Yan Shan was well-known in the industry, but to the general public, figures who often appeared in financial magazines were not familiar faces. Therefore, when his name was mentioned frequently and appeared often in the public eye, it was only natural that people would dig into him, observe him, and study him.

Everything Yu Xi had arranged beforehand was precisely to make Ruan Yan Shan’s name appear even more frequently.

“Adding flowers to brocade, or throwing stones down a well.” Yu Xi asked Wang Hui, “In your opinion, which do most people prefer? Which are they more likely to do?”

Wang Hui fell silent.

How could he not know?

When the script had been neglected, funding withdrawn, the project aborted, and he was isolated and helpless, almost every so-called friend had watched him coldly from the sidelines.

He had even seen friends complaining about him to others, mocking his stubbornness, laughing at his obstinacy, and pushing all the blame onto his unyielding personality.

They were all just throwing stones down the well.

“The higher a person’s status, the stronger the so-called ‘throwing stones down the well’ becomes.” Yu Xi looked coldly at the skyrocketing topic trends on the screen. “Especially when this person, before gaining ‘status,’ was one of their own kind. Strip away the halo of ‘status,’ and all that’s left is something unbearable.”

“And resentment,” Yi Chen added with a smile.

【Ruan Yan Shan—isn’t he that son-in-law who married into the Ruan Corporation?】

【He didn’t originally have the surname Ruan. He changed to his wife’s surname after marriage and even had two kids.】

【I remember now. I saw news about his wedding back then. I was even envious that someone could eat soft rice for life.】

【No way—he spends his wife’s money, controls his father-in-law’s salary, and now he wants to trade bodies with a small actor?】

【What a thick face! He even used the Ruan Corporation to suppress Director Wang? What did Director Wang do wrong? Did he work hard to make movies just to be a stepping stone for someone like you who eats soft rice?】

Yu Xi was used to all kinds of discussions and reacted indifferently, but Wang Hui didn’t want to expose his emotions in front of his partners.

Still, he couldn’t help but scroll through his phone.

He had been suppressed by Ruan Yan Shan for too long. When all the doubts he had endured played out on Ruan Yan Shan himself, a secret sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.

Success was the best filter. Once the filter shattered, public opinion would shatter too.

“One more step.” Yu Xi took a deep breath.

“Are we really doing this? Are you sure?” Across from the three men, the woman’s expression looked somewhat shocked, but more puzzled.

Ruan Wen, Ruan Yan Shan’s wife.

The Ruan family’s only daughter, she had been protected too well and had no defenses against the outside world—especially toward Ruan Yan Shan.

Before marriage, Ruan Yan Shan truly loved her, willing to give everything for her, willing to change his surname, willing to meet every demand from her father.

Her father had grown to trust him more and more, gradually handing over the Ruan Corporation to him.

They had once been very happy—until her father passed away.

Ruan Yan Shan seemed to change into a different person.

No, perhaps he had always been that vile and disgusting person.

He started staying out frequently, and men began appearing around him often—Betas and Omegas alike. What he liked had always been men. He immersed himself in others’ fear, in forcing them, and it escalated, chasing physical and mental stimulation.

His hand gradually crossed legal boundaries, reaching into dark places.

Ruan Wen was trying to divorce him.

The first twenty-five years of her life had been carefree. Her father hadn’t forced her to inherit the family business or given her pressure.

All her father had done was give his daughter everything she wanted for happiness and find someone who could care for the rest of her life.

When she discovered Ruan Yan Shan’s true face, Ruan Wen broke down emotionally for a long time. She had never experienced such things and didn’t know what to do. The elders around her advised her to endure for the sake of propriety, the Ruan Corporation’s reputation, and the children. She should put more effort into winning back Ruan Yan Shan’s heart.

She didn’t understand—why? She wasn’t the one in the wrong, so why should she endure?

She spent countless black nights in endless internal conflict and confusion.

Until one day, she saw her haggard and aged self in the mirror, and she suddenly woke up.

—She hadn’t been like this before.

She was first an independent individual, then a family member, the Ruan Group’s heiress, a mother to her children, and Ruan Yan Shan’s wife.

If she became haggard, aged, sad, and depressed, it must be because of the people and environment around her.

She had been deceived by so-called love. She couldn’t deceive herself for life, endure for life.

She had to save herself.

She hired a lawyer and was gathering evidence for the divorce, but she hadn’t revealed this intention to Ruan Yan Shan yet—he had transferred assets, so she needed evidence.

And she was waiting for an opportunity to strike him down in one blow.

Now, someone had come to her door.

“What’s in it for you?” she asked Yu Xi and Yi Chen sitting across from her.

Ruan Wen knew them, but she couldn’t figure out why Yu Xi and Yi Chen had any connection to Ruan Yan Shan. Wang Hui being targeted by Ruan Yan Shan and seeking a way out made sense.

“Ruan Yan Shan’s actions have seriously affected my life.” Yu Xi told the truth and showed Ruan Wen photos of the harassing packages from Ruan Yan Shan. “These arrived this week via delivery. He even drugged me once.”

Ruan Wen furrowed her brows and looked at Yi Chen.

Yi Chen: “Some personal grudge. He provoked someone he shouldn’t have.”

“Who?”

“Us.”

“Hahahahahaha.” Ruan Wen laughed. She had no need to ask further—the goals aligned, and the specific reasons didn’t matter. “Alright, I’ll play along with you.”

The next afternoon, a farce spread online.

An hour after the official announcement of the male lead for Chasing Shadows, a disheveled woman rushed into the filming site, found Ji Ruiou, and smashed a stack of documents onto his head.

White papers flew down, scattering with chat records and various photos like snowflakes.

The crew was stunned. The content on the papers was very clear; a quick glance revealed high-definition, unwatermarked intimate photos, obviously taken by the subjects in the heat of passion.

“You male homewrecker! It was you! You seduced my husband!!!”

The woman pointed at Ji Ruiou’s forehead: “It’s all because of you! You broke into my family! You made my two children lose their father!!”

“Don’t you have any shame? Knowing third wheel and still doing it!! What about me? What about me! What do I do now!!!’

The woman was quickly pulled away by the site’s security. She cried and laughed. The staff recognized her as Ruan Yan Shan’s wife and didn’t dare do anything to her. They coaxed her until her emotions stabilized a bit and called someone to pick her up.

Once they saw Ruan Wen get into the car, the staff returned to the set with worried expressions.

In the back seat of the car, Ruan Wen dropped her crazy act from moments ago. While combing her hair, she asked, “How was my performance just now?”

“Perfect.” Wang Hui gave a thumbs up. “Want to guest star in my drama?”

Ruan Wen smiled: “Director Wang flatters me.”

The set had many people with eyes everywhere. Ruan Wen’s outburst naturally got filmed and posted online. Chasing Shadows was already hot, and Ji Ruiou had gained fans from landing the male lead role. With this kind of incident at the crew, the discussion exploded without question.

【？？？？】

【I just thought Ji Ruiou was pretty good-looking, and now he’s collapsed? Male homewrecker? What’s the deal? Anyone explain this melon??】

【Who was that crazy woman?】

【Ruan Wen! Ruan Yan Shan’s original wife! Oh my god! I remember she was a little princess before marriage! How did she end up like this? What did marriage do to a woman?!】

Someone strung together the entire series of events on a timeline.

First, The Boundless. Ruan Yan Shan wanted the two leads to trade bodies, Wang Hui refused, so Ruan Yan Shan used his power to suppress Wang Hui.

Then Yu Xi, who received harassing packages, reported to the police, and had a public conflict with Ruan Yan Shan—clearly connected.

Then Ji Ruiou, with Ruan Wen publicly throwing evidence at the set, accusing him of being the male homewrecker.

【Holy crap, Ji Ruiou is the homewrecker?】

【Ji Ruiou is the third wheel, and Chasing Shadows is invested by Ruan Yan Shan—terrifying when you think about it?!】

【He wouldn’t have traded his body for the Chasing Shadows lead role, right?】

【No way? Collapsing before going viral? If your character’s bad, don’t be an actor!】

【Look what I found! When Yu Xi clashed with Ruan Yan Shan, who was standing between them blocking? It was Ji Ruiou! Oh my god!! He knew Ruan Yan Shan was harassing Yu Xi all along, right?】

Ruan Wen watched the online discussions about Ruan Yan Shan’s series of events with relish, liking several particularly vicious and dirty comments before satisfiedly turning off the screen.

“But even if his reputation collapses and he’s cursed out, so what? Ruan Yan Shan has no shame.” Ruan Wen thought it over and still felt unsatisfied. “You can’t do anything to him anyway. How do you plan to dig up evidence on his dirty dealings?”

Ruan Wen knew Ruan Yan Shan was involved in shady businesses.

She just couldn’t find solid evidence.

But Ruan Yan Shan was very cautious about it, keeping himself clean. Acting rashly without evidence would only make him more vigilant, harder to catch.

Yu Xi lowered his eyelids, his expression somewhat dim: “That’s why I had you go to Ji Ruiou.”

Ruan Yan Shan had many lovers.

Yu Xi had only told Ruan Wen to find Ji Ruiou, only to go crazy in front of him.

“I… know him very well…”

In Room 8016, the curtains were tightly drawn. The glow from the monitor was the only light source, illuminating a pair of round eyes—the eyes were very cute in shape, and the owner’s face was soft and obedient, but at this moment, his expression was twisted, his eyes filled with unwillingness, anger, and filth.

Why why why why why…

Before Ruan Wen caused the scene at the set, she had just met with Yu Xi.

So, it was Yu Xi who sent her.

It was Yu Xi.

Why why why why why…

Why block my path?